Circulating water heater



Dec. 16, 1941. c. M. KIMBERLIN 2,266,216

CIRCULATING WATER HEATER Filed May '7, 1940 Cttorneg Patented. Dec. i6, l19.41-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,266,216 cmoULA'rING WATER HEATER Cama M. Kimber-lin, Spokane, Wash.

Application May 7, 1940, Serial No. 333,732

(Cl. 21S-38) 2 Claims.

My present invention relates to improvements in a circulating water heater for auxiliary heating of the cooling system in internal combustion motor power plants with special reference to automobile, truck, and tractor power units. The principle of the invention to be herein disclosed relates to electric heaters and to the method of applying such heaters in the cooling system or water circulation system of internal combustion power plants wherein the fluid in the system will be heated and forced into circulation from the radiator through the pump and into the motor cooling system. In this way the motor will be maintained at a temperature capable of ready starting on demand and the cooling fluid will be protected against freezing during such time as the motor may be idle, such as in an unheated garage over night in cold weather.

A principal object of the invention resides in so constructing the heater andl applying the same to a power unit that circulation in one direction will be eiected. The circulation will be governed to insure heating of a motor to a desired degree of temperature before the circulation is com-1 plete, through the usual thermostat, and thence through the radiator.

Another object of my invention is to economically apply the electric heater in the circulating path of the water system of a power unit which will rapidly eiect its desired purpose, insure safety against extremely low temperatures, and which will be positive and can be operated at lowcost. l

To effect the purposes above outlined and to briefly set forth the principles involved, I utilize an electric heater having its supply source from any ordinary lighting circuit available. I provide heating coils oi `the immersible type in the heater which can be utilized in the path of the circulating system to rapidly heat the iiuid content in the lower portion of the power plant and force same in circulation throughout the plant with special reference to maintaining the motor itself in a temperature for ready starting without the usual waste of fuel required in Warming up such an engine.

My unit contains certain controlling features which insure either low or high temperature, according to the outside atmospheric temperatures, and for any other application when such a power unit may be at rest. This without impeding or interfering with the free circulation of the water cooling system under operating'conditions.

The invention consists of certain novel combi- 55 secured by threading the nipples nations and elements in immersion type heaters, as will hereinafter be more fully pointed out and claimed. In the accompanying drawing I have r and showing my heater installed for operationin connection with the said unit,

Figure 2 is a plan view of my heater,

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional vlew'in elevation of the heater and showing in broken lines the electrical connection from an outside source for supplying energy to the heating coils,

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the valve installed in the heater for insuring circulation in one continuous direction during operation of the heater.

In order that the purpose and utility of the heater may be readily understood, I have indicated in Figure l the motor ivi in outline, the usual radiator l-t for cooling the water in the system during the operation of the motor. and the usual circulation hookuup from the top of the motor to the top of the radiator R, from the bottom of the radiator R through the pump P, back to the motor. The commonly used thermcstat T is applied into the circulating system shown in Figure l close to the engine head and in the connection to the radiator R.

The heater comprising my contribution and invention is applied between the bottom of the radiator R and the pump P, using short hose sections lill2 to effect connection between ei:- tended nipples upon the heater and the ends of the pipes or tubes comprising that portion of the circulation system. For operation of the heater a plugs-in cord from any light source available is connected to the heater in the usual manner of plugging in such units. A'suitable switch capable of turning the energy on and ofi, or to low or high, is available in connection with the heater for proper manipulation of the device.

The heater is constructed according to the mode I have at present devised of a short length of tubing IU having bushings or nipples Il secured to the ends of the tubes. These may be to the tubing,

or by soldering, welding, or such similar wellknown methods. Inside of the tube, which is' joined in a bushing I4 in which is incorporated a suitable gasket. The coils with the bushing Il are inserted through the side `wall of the tube I and secured thereon by suitable locking nuts which, together with lthe gaskets, form a watertight joint and insures that the ends of the coll of the heating units will be exposed above the tube where suitable electrical connection is made with the available source of power.

It is to be understood, of course, that heating elements will be carried inside of the coils and properly insulated therefrom to insure the transference of heat generated in the coils to the water in the heater. Where the ,coils are exposed outside of the casing or tube I@ suitable covering I5 is provided which may be secured in any of the well-known manners, such as by screws as shown.

Extending through the casing I5 are contact prongs I6. These prongs extend outside of the covering or casing I5 and are suitably arranged for the reception of the usual connector plug Ia, to which is attached the power cord I6b. On top of the cover I5 I mount the usualcontrol switch I8I of the type capable of opening or closing the electrical circuit from the power cord I6a, and in which the key I9 is also capable of the switch to low heat wherein only one coil is energized, or to high where both coils, as in the present instance, are desired for extremely low atmospheric temperatures. It is to be understood that suitable wire connections will be made between the prongs I6 to the several heating elements and through the switch to effect the purpose of controlling the heating elements in a proper manner.

One of the bushings II, preferably the one .closest to the radiator, is provided with a valve comprising a plate 20 having a slot 2| through which it is pivoted upon the prongs or hook 2Ia to normally close the passage from the radiator to the pump when the power unit is idle. This same valve closure will automatically open, due to the circulation of the water in the system at such times as the pump is operating. It will, therefore, not impede proper circulation of the water for the cooling system. A valve seat 22 is provided in this bushing II carrying the closure 20 to insure that when the heaters are turned on to maintain the proper temperature of the motor the heated water due to the closed valve will vbe expanded and forced forward through the pump and into the motor circulation portion of the system. If the engine be cold, the thermostatic valve T will be closed and remain in that position until such time as the heater has furnished a suiiicient-degree of heat in the motor to insure opening of the thermostatic valve, at which time the pressure due to expansion twill cause circulation through the thermostatic valve T into the radiator R. A fresh source of fluid will be drawn from the radiator through the valve 20 continuing the circulation.

The above manner of installing the heater and its use insures that the motor will be maintained at a temperature controlled by the thermostatic valve and that the radiator will be protected fromfreezing conditions by such an amount of water as may leave the motor water system and be forced forward into the radiator system. It is essential in order to -insure long life to the motor and not subject it to excessive wear due to trying to start the plant under cold conditions, to insure that the motor may be maintained at a good starting temperature. This insures against raw gas entering the crank case and diluting the oil. It saves undue strain upon the battery and insures quick starting.

It is to be understood, of course, that the extension cord leading to the heater will be removed before attempting to operate, if the plant be installed in an automobile, truck, or tractor that is to be taken out on the road.

Hav-ing thus fully described my invention, what I I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A circulating heater for water cooled power plants comprising a shell interposed in and aligned with the circulating system, heating elements within the shell having control means therefore exterior of the shell, said shell having a valve seat in its inlet end and also having valve plate hanger means adjacent the upper portion of said valve seat, and a one way fluid valve means openable under the urgence of the incoming stream of fluid and comprising a valve plate depending from said hanger means in a manner to close upon said seat to prevent the discharge of fluid through the inlet opening upon the application thereto of a reverse pressure that would otherwise be suiilcient to overcome the pressure of the incoming uid.

2. A circulating heater for water cooled power plants comprising a tubular casing having immersion heater elements therein and control means exterior thereof, a coupler on each end of said casing for jolnder with conduit means for the coolant employed in the power plant,

v the coupler on the inlet end of said casing having a throat reduced in diameter from the inside diameter of the casing, an annular valve seat about the casing end of said throat and prong means adjacent the upper curve of said seat, and a one way fluid valve means openable under the urgence of the incoming stream of iiuid and comprising a valve plate depending from said prong in a manner to close upon said seat to prevent the discharge of fluid through the inlet opening upon the application thereto of a reverse pressure that would otherwise be sufficient to overcome the pressure of the incoming fluid.

CARNA M. KIMIBERLIN. 

